United States Code (Last Updated: May 24, 2014) |
Title 26. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE |
SubTitle D. Miscellaneous Excise Taxes |
Chapter 42. PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS; AND CERTAIN OTHER TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS |
SubChapter A. Private Foundations |
§ 4940. Excise tax based on investment income
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(a) Tax-exempt foundations There is hereby imposed on each private foundation which is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) for the taxable year, with respect to the carrying on its activities, a tax equal to 2 percent of the net investment income of such foundation for the taxable year.
(b) Taxable foundations There is hereby imposed on each private foundation which is not exempt from taxation under section 501(a) for the taxable year, with respect to the carrying on of its activities, a tax equal to— (1) the amount (if any) by which the sum of (A) the tax imposed under subsection (a) (computed as if such subsection applied to such private foundation for the taxable year), plus (B) the amount of the tax which would have been imposed under section 511 for the taxable year if such private foundation had been exempt from taxation under section 501(a), exceeds (2) the tax imposed under subtitle A on such private foundation for the taxable year. (c) Net investment income defined (1) In general For purposes of subsection (a), the net investment income is the amount by which (A) the sum of the gross investment income and the capital gain net income exceeds (B) the deductions allowed by paragraph (3). Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this section, net investment income shall be determined under the principles of subtitle A.
(2) Gross investment income For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “gross investment income” means the gross amount of income from interest, dividends, rents, payments with respect to securities loans (as defined in section 512(a)(5)), and royalties, but not including any such income to the extent included in computing the tax imposed by section 511. Such term shall also include income from sources similar to those in the preceding sentence.
(3) Deductions (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (1), there shall be allowed as a deduction all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred for the production or collection of gross investment income or for the management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for the production of such income, determined with the modifications set forth in subparagraph (B).
(B) Modifications For purposes of subparagraph (A)— (i) The deduction provided by section 167 shall be allowed, but only on the basis of the straight line method of depreciation. (ii) The deduction for depletion provided by section 611 shall be allowed, but such deduction shall be determined without regard to section 613 (relating to percentage depletion). (4) Capital gains and losses For purposes of paragraph (1) in determining capital gain net income— (A) There shall not be taken into account any gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of property to the extent that such gain or loss is taken into account for purposes of computing the tax imposed by section 511. (B) The basis for determining gain in the case of property held by the private foundation on December 31, 1969 , and continuously thereafter to the date of its disposition shall be deemed to be not less than the fair market value of such property onDecember 31, 1969 .(C) Losses from sales or other dispositions of property shall be allowed only to the extent of gains from such sales or other dispositions, and there shall be no capital loss carryovers or carrybacks. (D) Except to the extent provided by regulation, under rules similar to the rules of section 1031 (including the exception under subsection (a)(2) thereof), no gain or loss shall be taken into account with respect to any portion of property used for a period of not less than 1 year for a purpose or function constituting the basis of the private foundation’s exemption if the entire property is exchanged immediately following such period solely for property of like kind which is to be used primarily for a purpose or function constituting the basis for such foundation’s exemption. (5) Tax-exempt income For purposes of this section, net investment income shall be determined by applying section 103 (relating to State and local bonds) and section 265 (relating to expenses and interest relating to tax-exempt income).
(d) Exemption for certain operating foundations (1) In general No tax shall be imposed by this section on any private foundation which is an exempt operating foundation for the taxable year.
(2) Exempt operating foundation For purposes of this subsection, the term “exempt operating foundation” means, with respect to any taxable year, any private foundation if— (A) such foundation is an operating foundation (as defined in section 4942(j)(3)), (B) such foundation has been publicly supported for at least 10 taxable years, (C) at all times during the taxable year, the governing body of such foundation— (i) consists of individuals at least 75 percent of whom are not disqualified individuals, and (ii) is broadly representative of the general public, and (D) at no time during the taxable year does such foundation have an officer who is a disqualified individual. (3) Definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) Publicly supported A private foundation is publicly supported for a taxable year if it meets the requirements of section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) or 509(a)(2) for such taxable year.
(B) Disqualified individual The term “disqualified individual” means, with respect to any private foundation, an individual who is— (i) a substantial contributor to the foundation, (ii) an owner of more than 20 percent of— (I) the total combined voting power of a corporation, (II) the profits interest of a partnership, or (III) the beneficial interest of a trust or unincorporated enterprise, which is a substantial contributor to the foundation, or (iii) a member of the family of any individual described in clause (i) or (ii). (C) Substantial contributor The term “substantial contributor” means a person who is described in section 507(d)(2).
(D) Family The term “family” has the meaning given to such term by section 4946(d).
(E) Constructive ownership The rules of paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4946(a) shall apply for purposes of subparagraph (B)(ii).
(e) Reduction in tax where private foundation meets certain distribution requirements (1) In general In the case of any private foundation which meets the requirements of paragraph (2) for any taxable year, subsection (a) shall be applied with respect to such taxable year by substituting “1 percent” for “2 percent”.
(2) Requirements A private foundation meets the requirements of this paragraph for any taxable year if— (A) the amount of the qualifying distributions made by the private foundation during such taxable year equals or exceeds the sum of— (i) an amount equal to the assets of such foundation for such taxable year multiplied by the average percentage payout for the base period, plus (ii) 1 percent of the net investment income of such foundation for such taxable year, and (B) such private foundation was not liable for tax under section 4942 with respect to any year in the base period. (3) Average percentage payout for base period For purposes of this subsection— (A) In general The average percentage payout for the base period is the average of the percentage payouts for taxable years in the base period.
(B) Percentage payout The term “percentage payout” means, with respect to any taxable year, the percentage determined by dividing— (i) the amount of the qualifying distributions made by the private foundation during the taxable year, by (ii) the assets of the private foundation for the taxable year. (C) Special rule where tax reduced under this subsection For purposes of this paragraph, if the amount of the tax imposed by this section for any taxable year in the base period is reduced by reason of this subsection, the amount of the qualifying distributions made by the private foundation during such year shall be reduced by the amount of such reduction in tax.
(4) Base period For purposes of this subsection— (A) In general The term “base period” means, with respect to any taxable year, the 5 taxable years preceding such taxable year.
(B) New private foundations, etc. If an organization has not been a private foundation throughout the base period referred to in subparagraph (A), the base period shall consist of the taxable years during which such foundation has been in existence.
(5) Other definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) Qualifying distribution The term “qualifying distribution” has the meaning given such term by section 4942(g).
(B) Assets The assets of a private foundation for any taxable year shall be treated as equal to the excess determined under section 4942(e)(1).
(6) Treatment of successor organizations, etc. In the case of— (A) a private foundation which is a successor to another private foundation, this subsection shall be applied with respect to such successor by taking into account the experience of such other foundation, and (B) a merger, reorganization, or division of a private foundation, this subsection shall be applied under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
Codification
Section 1221(a)(1), (b) of Pub. L. 109–280, which directed the amendment of section 4940 without specifying the act to be amended, was executed to this section, which is section 4940 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2006 Amendment notes below.
Amendments
2007—Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 110–172 amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There shall be taken into account only gains and losses from the sale or other disposition of property used for the production of interest, dividends, rents, and royalties, and property used for the production of income included in computing the tax imposed by section 511 (except to the extent gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of such property is taken into account for purposes of such tax).”
2006—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1221(a)(1), inserted at end “Such term shall also include income from sources similar to those in the preceding sentence.” See Codification note above.
Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1221(b)(1), substituted “gross investment income (as defined in paragraph (2))” for “interest, dividends, rents, and royalties”. See Codification note above.
Subsec. (c)(4)(C). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1221(b)(2), inserted “or carrybacks” after “carryovers”. See Codification note above.
Subsec. (c)(4)(D). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1221(b)(3), added subpar. (D). See Codification note above.
1986—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1301(j), substituted “(relating to State and local bonds)” for “(relating to interest on certain governmental obligations)”.
Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1832, added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) and concluding provision which read as follows:
“(B) the average percentage payout for the base period equals or exceeds 5 percent.
In the case of an operating foundation (as defined in section 4942(j)(3)), subparagraph (B) shall be applied by substituting ‘3⅓ percent’ for ‘5 percent’.”
1984—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–369, § 302(a), added subsec. (d).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–369, § 303(a), added subsec. (e).
1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–600 substituted “2 percent” for “4 percent”.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 95–345 inserted provision relating to payments with respect to securities loans.
1976—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455 substituted “capital gain net income” for “net capital gain” in par. (1) after “investment income and the”, and in par. (4) after “par. (1) in determining”.
Effective Date Of Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 110–172 effective as if included in the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Pub. L. 109–280, to which such amendment relates, see section 3(j) of Pub. L. 110–172, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to taxable years beginning after
Amendment by section 1301(j)(6) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to bonds issued after
Amendment by section 1832 of Pub. L. 99–514 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, to which such amendment relates, see section 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 48 of this title.
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 302(c)(1),
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 303(b),
Pub. L. 95–600, title V, § 520(b),
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–345 applicable with respect to amounts received after
Effective Date
Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 101(k),
Savings
Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 101(l),
[Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 314(b)(2),
[Pub. L. 94–455, title XIII, § 1301(b),
[Pub. L. 94–455, title XIII, § 1309(b),
[Pub. L. 93–490, § 4(b),
Miscellaneous
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6204,
For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 302(c)(3),